Breakup of The Soviet Union

Russia was one of the greatest empires prior to World War One similar in stature to the Ottoman Empire. The empire extended from Finland to Vladivostok just north of modern day North Korea. This great empire which had been ruled by a single family for nearly 300 years was overthrown in 1917 due to the now familiar reasons which were appalling economic conditions – a lack of food, clothing and shelter for its citizens.

buy femara online cheap 1917 Return to Russia- Lenin, one of the main leader of the Bolsheviks (communist party) comes back to Russia. He along with many others tries to overthrow the Tzars (the Russian monarchy).

follow 1918 Beginning of Independent Nations- Russia due to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk gives up large parts of land to Germany, Ukraine, Finland, and several other nations as each country is seeking its own independence

follow 1920 Civil War- The Bolsheviks are trying to spread communism throughout the nation, though there are many people who disagree and this leads to a civil war between the Bolsheviks (red) and the non Bolsheviks (white).

1921 Spread of Communism- Throughout the country the concept of ‘war communism’ begins to spread and Lenin grows even more powerful. This results in the majority of the population starving to death as the army confiscates grains for their personal needs. For this many of the population goes on strike.

1921 Economic Settlement- For a brief period a new Economic Policy is formed which allows some stability within the Soviet economy

1922 Countries are Merged with Russia- A Union treaty is formed which brings Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Trans Caucasus together to the Soviet Union

1924 Death of Lenin- Lenin dies and a dictatorship based on people working in ‘collectives’ is formed Lenin is now replaced by a leader called Joseph Stalin who was able to outwit all the other communist leaders

1939 A Pact is Formed- The Second World War begins and the Soviet Union signs a pact with Nazi Germany called the Non Aggression pact

1940-1941 Invasion- By this time the Soviets have just signed another Non Aggression pact with Japan. Though shortly after, the Germans invade the Soviet Union. They take over Ukraine and several other sections of the nation by the end of the year, but Moscow is saved by Soviet defence

1945 Russian Agreement- The Soviet Union along with their allies come to an agreement on postwar plans at the Yalta conference

1953 Stalin – Stalin dies and Georgi Malenko becomes Prime Minister

1955 NATO and Warsaw- Similar to NATO, the Soviet union sets up an organisation which would defend any of the countries within the Soviet Union from possible harm. This becomes an extremely powerful organisation and the iron wall between NATO and Warsaw is created

1956 Protests in Hungary- Students within Hungary start a movement against the Soviet Union and Soviet Union brings troops into country and shoots them

1962 Cuban Missile Crisis- Soviet missiles are kept in Cuba which starts a conflict between the Soviet Union and the U.S.

1968 Brezhnev Doctrine- Both Warsaw and the Soviet Union send troops into Czechoslovakia as a part of the Brezhnev Doctrine to spread liberalisation

1990 Soviet Begins to Fall- Yeltsin, the most recently elected president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic leaves the Soviet Communist Party

1991 Taking Action- Yeltsin bans the Soviet Communist Part and declares the Baltic Republics such as Ukraine and other nations independent. By September the Congress Party votes for the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russia takes over the USSR and the leaders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine sign an agreement setting up Commonwealth within each of these Independent states